Italy calls Wikileaks release "9/11 of diplomacy"

ROME, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The expected release of classified
U.S. documents by Wikileaks will be the "9/11 of world
diplomacy", Italy's foreign minister said on Sunday, urging
Italian prosecutors to investigate the whistle-blowing website.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, on a trip to Qatar, said
he did not know the content of the files to be released but
warned they would"blow up the relationship of trust between
states", according to Italian news agencies.

"It will be the September 11th of world diplomacy," he said.

In an interview with state television earlier on Sunday,
Frattini said the release would be the product of "a criminal
activity that has already been prosecuted in 10 countries,
including the United States".

"I hope Italian magistrates will also look into the matter,"
he said.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government, worried that
some of the documents might embarrass it, on Friday cited the
expected release as part of a strategy to hurt Italy's
international image and its economic interests.

Some newspapers have said the documents will be made public
later on Sunday.